Championing Equitable Land Access at Second 2023 Farm Bill Hearing
Farm Bill season is ramping up as the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry hold their second field hearing for the 2023 Farm Bill. The committee began their field hearings in Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow’s home state of Michigan last month and they continue this month in Arkansas, home state of Ranking Member […]
Representing Young Farmers’ Priorities at the First 2023 Farm Bill Field Hearing
The next farm bill will be signed into law in 2023, and the Coalition’s farmers and staff are already busy advocating for the priorities of young and BIPOC farmers. On Friday, April 29, our Michigan Organizer, Payge Lindow, alongside Land Advocacy Fellows Candius Elliott of Workin Roots Farm and Detra Iverson of Love n Labor […]
Young Farmers FY 2022 Appropriations Priorities
The National Young Farmers Coalition (“Young Farmers”) unites young farmers and ranchers to ensure a bright and equitable future for U.S. agriculture, and works with policymakers to address the most critical systemic barriers preventing motivated young people and people of color from building successful farming careers. Congress and the USDA have made important investments in […]
Senate leadership introduces HEALS Act, work continues toward next COVID-19 relief bill
On Monday evening July 27th, Senate Majority Leader McConnell released an initial coronavirus relief package proposal, the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act. This $1 trillion proposal, which comes about two months after the House’s HEROES Act, sets the stage for discussions to continue towards a final compromise bill. Although there are […]
COVID-19 Farmer Stories: Better Together CSA
Farmers have always been reliant on friends and neighbors to help out during hard times. With the COVID-19 pandemic shifting market outlets, halting sales to schools and restaurants, and drastically changing the landscape of local farmers markets, members of the Rio Grande Farmers Coalition jumped to action to create an aggregated, farmer-run Community Supported […]
COVID-19 Farmer Stories: Tianna Neal, Keysville, Georgia
Located on several acres of the once renowned Boggs Academy, now Boggs Rural Life Center, in Burke County, Georgia, Starlit Roots is an organic vegetable farm in its first year of operation. Hoping to grow into a wholesale business that provides local schools with fresh produce for their students, Starlit Roots business has adjusted to […]
COVID-19 Farmer Stories: Haley Miyaoka, Honolulu, HI
Haley Miyaoka owns and operates Ahiki Acres in Honolulu, HI, a quarter-acre diversified vegetable CSA, committed in mission to responsible land stewardship and increasing food security on Oahu. Haley is one of the many young farmers who has been forced to turn their business model on its head to meet the evolving needs of […]
Call on USDA to Make Direct Aid for Farmers Available to Local and Regional Producers!
USDA is preparing to distribute $16 billion in direct aid to producers who have experienced financial losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program are expected to be open in early May, but the program as currently designed may leave out thousands of farmers, including producers who sell into local and regional markets and […]
Young Farmers FY 2021 Appropriations Priorities
The National Young Farmers Coalition (“Young Farmers”) unites young farmers and ranchers to ensure a viable future for U.S. agriculture, and works with policymakers to address the most critical structural and economic barriers preventing motivated young people from building successful farming careers. We also recognize that the structural and economic issues that affect socially disadvantaged […]
Agriculture Resilience Act supports young farmers in fight against the climate crisis
On February 26th, Representative Chellie Pingree (ME-01) introduced the Agriculture Resilience Act (H.R. 5861). This bill sets ambitious goals for reaching net zero emissions from agriculture by 2040 and would provide much-needed resources for farmers and ranchers as they work to reduce their carbon emissions and sequester carbon in their soils. Congresswoman Pingree, who […]